Hoisting machine



-. Ln 1.1114 m 22 1927. 1,621,700 March A. H. WILSON HOISTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I UM WWW;

March 22, 1927. 1,621,700v

A. H. wulsoN HOISTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1925 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1 Jzwnfiw A'Zemder 19. Mill on,

A. H. WILSON HOISTING MACHINE March 22, 1927. 1,621,700

Filed July 20, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wi 2min? Zia 6725 (59 m )yzeza/zda" Jj M15072,

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES v A 1,621,700 PATENT OFFICE."

ALEXANDER H. WILSON, OF OAK IEARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

HOISTING MACHINE.

Application filed July 20, 1925. Serial No. 44,672.

This invention relates to hoisting machines, having reference more particularly to machines of the type designed for use in building operations to elevate building material to the several floors of a building under construction. More specifically, the invention relates to that type of building material hoists. which employ a pair of lifts operated by a single cable so as to have alternating service and return movements, and equipped with both automatic and manual controls. whereby the lifts may be stopped automatically at the highest story, or by hand at that or any lower intermediate story.

The general objectof the invention is to provide an improved and more efiicient apparatus of this general type than has here 'tofore been known. Other more detailed objects are to provide in combination with vertical guideways, cages slidable therein, a hoisting cable, and a winding drum for said cable. improved means for operating, reversing and braking the drum, with both manual and automatic controls therefor, to provide an improved automatic dogging mechanism for the cable-supporting pulleys at the top of the structure, and to provide, in connection with a motor for operating the apparatus, automatic means for increasing the power of the motor when a load is to be raised, and for idling the motor while the apparatus is idle Still other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art as the same becomes better understood from the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a practical and approved embodiment of the invention, and in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lifts or cages, and their supporting and guiding means, viewed from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the complete. apparatus, broken out, viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a top plan view, broken out;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the upper portion of the cage-supporting and guiding frame, the cable-supporting pulleys thereon, and the automatic dogging mechanism for said pulleys;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through the cable operating, reversing and braking mechanism taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

6 is an enlarged section of the same mechanism in a. plane at right angles to that of Fig. 5 and taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; I

i Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation 00 0f the automatic brake release mechanism;

and

Fig, 8 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and artly in vertical section 01 the automatic t rottle control of the motor,

Referring to the drawings, 10 and 10' designate two pairs of vertical uprights erected side by side on a base 11 and constituting guides for a pair of lifts or cages 12, 12. The cage-supporting and guiding frame is commonly rested on the basement floor of the building, indicated by the line A in Figs. 1 and 2. and the upper ends of the uprights 10 and 10 are rigidly connected and spaced by a pair of-horizontal beams 7 13. from the opposite ends of which braces 14 extend to the first floor indicated by line B. Journaled in suitable bearings on. and between the to supporting pull ing faces of which are mounted circular ratchets 16, 16. A single continuous cable 17 is connected at one end to the upper cross beam of the cage 12 and extends thence-over the pulley 15, thence downwardly and beneath an idler pulley 18 mounted on the base 11, thence laterally of the elevator frame'to a windingdrum 19, around which it is passed several times, thence back beneath a second idler pulley 18' on the base 11, thence upwardly and over the supporting pulley 15', with its other end attached to the upper cross bar of the cage 12'; the length of the cable being such that when one cage is in its lowest position, the other cage will be in 9 its highest position.

Describing next the operating and controlling means for the lifts, on a base 21 at some distance from the bottom of the elevator frame is mounted a motor convention- 0 all indicated at 22, this motor being preferab y a gas engine which, within the purview of the invention, may be substitutedby a I steam engine, an electric motor, or any other source of power. The shaft 23 of the motor,

pillow blocks 27 is also journaled a drum bars 13 are a pair of cableeys 15, 15', on correspond- 80 3 26 is a spur gear 29 meshing with and driv- "go shaft 28, fast on one end of which is the cable winding drum 19. Loose on the shaft ing a large spur gear 31 fast on the shaft 28. Also loose on the shaft 26 is another spur gear 32 driving an idler gear fast on a countershaft 3 which shaft has fast thereon a'spur gear 35 also meshing with and driving the large gear 3]. in the reverse direction. Fast with the spur gears 29 and 32 are clutch drums 36 and 37 respectively (Fig. 6), and splined on the shaft 26 between said clutch drums is a clutch sleeve or collar 38. Mounted on the clutch drums 36 and 37 are clutch bands 39 and 40 respectively which are clutched on and rc-.

leased from the drums through the agency of elbow levers l1 and 42 that are fulcrumed on the inner sides of the clutch drums (Fig.

at 43 and are adjustably connected by screw-threaded links 44 to one end of-the brake band and are actuated by pull and thrust links 45 connecting the other arms of the levers with the opposite ends of the clutch sleeve 38. When the clutch sleeve is shifted endwise, one clutch band is released and by a further shift in the same direction the other is applied. The clutch seeve 38 is shifted by a vertically disposed clutch shifting lever fulerumed on a shaft 46 (Fig. 5'); journaled in uprights 47 on the base block 21; the upper forked arm 48 of the lever vembracing radial pins 46 in a collar 51 encircling the clutch sleeve 38, and the lower forked arm 52 of the. lever carrying pins or rollers 53 engaged with oppositely inclined cam grooves 54 and 55 in a circular cam 56 that is keyed on a countershaft 57 underlying and parallel-with the shaft 26. on an overhanging end of the shaft 57 is a pulley 58, around which is wound several turnsof a controlling cable 59. The two reaches of said cable are extended beneath pulleys 61 mounted on the base 11; and extend thence upwardly one or more times around a pulley 62 that fast on a shaft 63 journaled between the cage-supporting pulleys 15, 15' on suitable hearings on the top cross bars 13. On the other end of shaft 63 is a pulley 64,

- to the periphery of which-is attached a cord or chain 65, the depending limbs of which are attached respectively to a pair of handle levers 66 and 67 (Fig. 3) that are fulcrumed at one end at 68 (Fi 2) to the inner uprights of the-guide es 10. 10'. When both'of the handle levers 66 and 67 are horizontal, as shown in full lines Fig. 2, the clutch 38 is in intermediate or neutral position. When one handle lever is depressed,

the cam shaft 57 is rocked through the cable 59 and pulley 58 to clutch one of the gears .29 and 32 to the drive; shaft 26 and thereby rotate the winding drum I9 in one direction,

the other handle leveribeing simultaneously' raised. I the other-T lmudic lever is dedrum in either direction. And in associa- 76 tion with the brake-applying mechauism there is a-(lcvice, actuated by the same spring which applies the brake, for automatically locking the clutch 38 in intermediate or neutral position.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, fast on shaft 28 is a brake drum 69 encircled by a brake band 71, the ends of which are drawn together or separated b a. well-known device comprising an elbow ever 72 and a 73. 35

The lever 72 is connected by a. 7 k to an arm 7 5' fast on a. rock shaft 76. Also fast on the rock shaft 76 is an upstanding arm 77, the upper end of which is connected through a well-known form of adjustable elastic link, including a coil spring 78,, to the substantially horizontal arm 7 9 of an elbow lever that is pivoted at its elbow at 81 between a pair of pivot lugs 82 (Fig. 6) on the upper end of the standard 47. The up- 9 standing arnt83 of said elbow lever carries a roller 84 that; under the pull of the spring 7 8, tends to seat itself in a semi-circular notch formed in the front edge of a. horizontal projection 85 formed on the upper arm 48 100 of the clutch shifting lever. WVhen the roller is so seated, the clutch 38 is locked in intel-mediate position, but when the clutch'is shifted by the turning of the cam 56, the

roller 84 rides outof the notch toone side 195 or the other.

The brake is automatically released each time 'the clutch is shifted to connect the drum shaft with the drive shaft through eitherofthe direct and reversing gear trains. 11

This release mechanism 'is best shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7 and comprises the following. Keyed on the shaft 57 is a segment cam 86, in the peaks of which are journaled upper and lower rollers 87 and 88 that lie opposite 1 one edge of an arm 89 pivoted at 90 to the base. The upper end of the 'arm 89 is con 'nected by a thrust link 91 (Fig. 2) to the r end of an arm 92 that is fast on the rock shaft 7 6. When the clutch shaft 57- is partially rotated bfl the cable 59 and pulley 58 to engage e'drum shaft with either of its opposltely driving gear trains, one of. the cam rollers87 and- 88 pushes the arm 89 and thrust link 91 forwardly, and

releases the brake and holds it released against the pull ofthe spring 78, until the clutch has been shifted back'toneutral position. The brake is thus automatically re- 1 I leased and Held released during the elevating movement of either cage, and is automechanism for the hoisting cable the apparatus preferably employs a safety dogging device which operates automatically to prevent descent of a loaded cage the instant its ascending movement is arrested. This mechanism, which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. coniprises a pairof dogging pawls 9:) and 94 pivotally mounted on the cross bar 13 and co-operating with the ratchets 1t) and 16. respectively. 'lhese dogs are provided with i'earwardly extending tail pieces 93' and 94', the free. ends of which. in the neutral position of the shaft (is (which corresponds with the neutral position of the clutch 38) underlie the two ends of a segment plate 95 that is fast on the. shaft 63. \Vhen the shaft ,(33 is rocked to throw in the clutch and elevate one of the cages, the dog pertaining to the safety ratchet of that cage is thrown out by the end of the segment disc 95 striking and depressing the tail of the dog, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. i; the other dog riding idly over its ratchet which is turning relatively in the opposite direction. Safety dogging mechanism of this general type has long been common on building material hoists. but the above-described mechanism includes a very simple and etlicient automatic means for releasing the dog on the lifting side of the hoist. 'hen the loaded cage has reached its destination, the dog guarding the other ratchet acts instantly to arrest its descent by gravity. In Figs. 2 and 8 I have also illustrated a simple device for automatically controlling the motor 22 from and by the turning movements of the clutch shaft 57. so as to open the throttle. or equivalent motor control. when either clutch is thrown in. and choke the throttle so as to stop or idle the motor when the clutchis thrown to neutral and the motor is not under load. Fast on the shaft 57 is a segment cam 96. the fiat-.side 96 of which directly underlies one arm 97' of a lever that is pivoted on a pin 98 in a casting 99 (Fig. 8) attached to the rear side of the pillow block 27. The lever arm 97 is normally drawn downwardly by a tensile spring 101. The other arm 102 of the lever is connected by a link 103 to the throttle of the motor 22. The spring 101 tends to rock the lever in a direction to close or choke the throttle and thus stop or idle the motor. \Vhen the clutch shaft 57 is turned in either direction to connect one or the other of the gear trains with the drum shaft. the segment cam 96 raises the lever arm 97 against the pull of the spring 101. and thus opens the throttle or other motor starting device.

The clutch shaft 57 is also preferably equipped with a nioveinent-lun ting device that limits the i'otative movement of the shaft 5T to an extent just sullicient to completely close one clutch and open the other.

Referring to Fig. 8. fast on the shaft 57 is a disc 104 formed with a pair of oppositely extending arms 105 and 100. Integral with and laterally offset from the bracket casting 99 is a depending stop member in the form of a stop 10?. 'hen the shaft 57 has been rotated a quarter turn in one direction. its further movement is arrested by contact of the arm 105 with the upper side of the step.

.107: and when said shaft has been rotated to the same extent in the reverse direction, further rotation is arrested by contact of the arm 106 with the lower side of the stop 107.

The apparatus also preferably employs means for automatically stopping the hoist.- ing movementwhen each cage has reached the topmost floor. As clearly -shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the top cross bar of each cage is formed with a forked extension 108 which straddles a vertical limb of the controlling cable 59; and fast on the said vertical limbs of the controlling cable are buttons 109 adapted to be struck bythe forked extensions 108 just before each lift. reaches the to'pmost'story of the building. or any other story for which the buttons 109 may be adjusted. The raising of the button by the lift extension of course has the same operating effect upon the controlling cable that its manual manipulation by the hand levers and 07 has; said manual levers being employed mainly to arrest the rise 1 and start the descent of the cage at intermediate floors. while the automatic stops consisting of the extensions 108 and buttons 109 serve the same function at the topmost floor. prevent-any danger of the cage striking and wrecking its supportnig structure through inattention of through both manual and automatic conti-ol. and through two movement-arresting is released, and released when the power is iment. of the operative principles underlying the present invention. it is manifest that the structural details and arrangements thereof may be considerably varied without departing from the substance of the indevices. both of which are automatic, and m both of which are applied when the power a hoistingcable wound on said drum, en-o gaged with said pulleys, and at its ends connected to said cages, power means for 1'0- tating said drum in either directioii, a hiction brake on said drum, spring-actuated means normally applying said brake, and means for releasing said brake simultaneously with the applicat on of power to said 2. In a hoisting apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pair of verticalguide-ways, and cages slidable in said guide-ways, or a drum, cable sup-- porting and guidin pulleys, a hoistin cable wound on said dru engaged with said pulleys, and at its ends connected to said cages, a motor, power transmitting means, including a clutch, for rotatingsaid drum in either direction from said motor, clutch shifting means, and mechanism actuated by said clutch shifting means for opening the throttle of said motor when sa d clutch is shifted to working position and for closing said throttle when said clutch is shifted to idle position.-

3. In a building material hoist of the character described, the combination with a v pair of vertical guideways, and cages slid-' able in said guide-wayspf a drum, cablesupporting and guiding pulleys, a hoistin cable wound on-said drum, engagedwitfi said pulleys, and at its. ends connected to said cages, a motor, power transmitting mechanism, including a clutch, for rotatin said drum in either direction from said 'motor, clutch shifting means, mechanism" actuated by said clutch shifting means for opening the throttle of said motor when said clutch is shifted to working position and for closing said throttle when said clutch is shifted to idle pomtion, and manually operable means for shifting said clutch at any point in the ascent oi said cages; 4 I

4. In a building material ist of the type described, including a {mi of vertical gmdeways, cages slidable in sai guidewavs, pulleys mounted on the top of said ways, a cage-operating cable traine over said pulleys, and power driven means for starting, stopping and reversing the opera: tion of said cable, the combination with said parts of manually operable meansior con-;

trollin said power driven means including a shag journaled on said guideways and means for turning saidshaft, and a safety device comprising ratchets fast with said pulleys, pivoted dogs co-operating with said ratchets, and means actuated from said shaft for retracting one of said dogs simultaneously with the inception of the movement. 7

cable-operating embodiment of the subjectmatter of claim 4, wherein the dog retractmeans comprises tail pieces on said ing and a member fast on said shaft adapt :5 ed to retract the latter.

ALEXANDER H. Wilson.

strike-the tail pieces of said dogs and 

